Chain Top Pencil Box

Last year I designed a simple jig that would allow me to drill accurate holes to make wooden hinges. Recently I came up with this plan for a pencil box that would use a wooden chain as a lid and would roll open.

The box is a very simple design, just some 1/2” Cherry that I had sitting in the shop. I simply used dowels to put it together, I wanted the chain top to draw the focus.

The chain links on the box are 3/4” Birch. I started by cutting each link piece to size and then used a round over bit on the router table to cut the curve on to each end. I then used my box joint jig to cut the fingers. After that I used my homemade jig to drill out the holes for the hinge pins which are simply made of 1/4” Poplar dowels.

The finish is a few coats of wipe on poly in satin finish.

-- Anthony - "The blacksmith and the artist, reflect it in their art. They forge their creativity, closer to the heart"